INDIA: 17 Day Essential India Tour Including Flights for Two (Standard)

From the majesty of the Taj Mahal, to the colour-splashed streets of Delhi, this is your chance to fully immerse yourself into India’s spectacular mix of people, traditions and breathtaking landscapes. Return International and Internal Flights for Two 15 Nights of Accommodation – Choose from Standard or Deluxe Packages Exciting Experiences in Delhi, the Taj Mahal, Jaipur, the River Ganges and More! INCLUSIONS Return International Flights for Two Internal Flights – Delhi to Varanasi and Jodhpur to Delhi Train from Varanasi to Agra 15 Nights of Accommodation – Choose from Standard and Deluxe Packages Delicious Daily Breakfasts Exciting Tours from Delhi to Udaipur Sightseeing Admission as per the Itinerary Return Airport Transfers Knowledgeable Local Guides Every Step of Your Journey All Touring Transport CHOOSE YOUR HOTEL PACKAGE When you’re ready to purchase, simply choose your preferred accommodation package from the Package Options section on the right of the page. Standard Hotels: 3 Nights in Delhi – Rock Land or similar 2 Nights in Varanasi – Costa River or similar 2 Nights in Agra – Srish-18 or similar 2 Nights in Suroth – Suroth Mahal or similar 2 Nights in Jaipur – Polo Inn & Suites or similar 1 Night in Pushkar – Aaram Baagh or similar 2 Nights in Udaipur – Kurabar Kothi or similar 1 Night in Jodhpur – Polo Heritage or similar Deluxe Hotels: 3 Nights in Delhi – Holiday Inn or similar 2 Nights in Varanasi – Hotel Hindustan International or similar 2 Nights in Agra – Sarovar Premier or similar 2 Nights in Suroth – Suroth Mahal or similar 2 Nights in Jaipur – Four Points by Sheraton or similar 1 Night in Pushkar – Bhanwar Singh Palace or similar 2 Nights in Udaipur – Mewargarh or similar 1 Night in Jodhpur – Mapple Abhay or similar TRAVEL DATES Available for one of the following departure dates in 2017: March: 6*, 13, 20 April: 3*, 10*, 17*, 24 May: 1, 8, 15, 22 June: 5, 12, 19, 26* July: 10*, 17*, 24 August: 7, 14, 21, 28 September: 4, 11, 18*, 25* *Peak season surcharge of $250 per person applies Book early to secure your preferred dates! HOW TO BOOK Once you have selected your favourite option, click on Add to Cart and follow the payment prompts Once you complete your purchase, you will be emailed a confirmation and unique booking code Please follow the instructions on your email to redeem your voucher For any other assistance or enquiries please contact support@kogantravel.com or call us on 1300 517 210. HIGHLIGHTS Start your journey in Old Delhi where you’ll visit the 300 year old Chandni Crown Market, famous for its maze of lanes crowded with stalls selling everything from drool-worthy local delicacies to arts and crafts. Take an exciting tour of Amber Fort, where you’ll experience an unforgettable elephant ride up to the regal front gates of this royal establishment. Speaking of royal, next you’ll visit the fascinating Armoury Museum inside the Maharaja’s City Palace, home to a spectacular collection of weaponry from finely crafted firearms to razor sharp swords and daggers. Visit one of India’s most iconic landmarks, the Taj Mahal – a white marble architectural marvel slowly crafted over 17 years by some 20,000 artisans from different corners of the globe. Take a peaceful boat ride on Lake Pichola, one of the most beautiful and picturesque lakes in Rajasthan. Experience the mystery, magic and mayhem of Delhi, a city littered with relics of lost Empires. ITINERARY Day 1: Arrive in Delhi (I/F) Arrive at your destination – Delhi, India! Upon arrival, meet your tour representative and receive a welcome garland at the airport. Transfer to your hotel where your tour representative will brief you on your itinerary for the coming days. Day 2: Delhi Full Day Tour (B) Old Delhi came into prominence when Shah Jahan moved his capital from Agra to Delhi. Today you’ll visit the 300 year old Chandni Chowk market. A maze of lanes crowded with shops selling an extraordinary variety of items and food, the noise and crowds are a quintessential part of any Indian market. From here you continue to the Jama Masjid or Friday Mosque. This is India’s largest mosque designed by Shah Jahan, and was his last architectural legacy. Originally it was called Masjid-I-Jahan Numa, which means “mosque commanding a view of the world”. In complete contrast to the noise and crowds of Old Delhi is Raj Ghat, a simple and stunning memorial to Mahatma Gandhi, the main architect of India’s independence. You will pass through the Red Fort, built in the mid-17th century by Shah Jahan, and plundered by the marauding armies of Nadir Shah and later by British soldiers. In the afternoon, you’ll start your tour of New Delhi, visiting Qutab Minar and Humayun’s tomb, built by his wife and mother of emperor Akbar. This is the earliest example of Mughal architecture in India. It is believed that it was this mausoleum, which inspired Shah Jahan to build the Taj Mahal. You’ll also drive past the India Gate, Presidential Palace and Parliament House. Day 3: Delhi – Varanasi (B) This morning you’ll board your flight to Varanasi. On arrival, take an excursion to Sarnath, where Lord Buddha preached his first sermon “Maha- Dharma-Chakra Pravartan” (in Buddhist terminology, ‘turned the wheel of the law’) after his enlightenment. Sarnath is rich in Buddhist antiquities ranging in date from the times of Ashoka down to the 12th century A.D. Among the structures at Sarnath are the ruins of the brick temple; the Dhamekh Stupa, adorned with delicate floral carvings; the Chaukhandi Stupa and Mahabodhi Society’s Mulagandha Kuti Vihar Temple. You’ll also visit the Archeological Museum, with an extremely rich collection of Buddhist sculptures comprising of numerous Buddha and Bodhisattva images. In the evening you’ll watch a Aarti ceremony on River Ganges. Every evening, as dusk descends, the Ganga Aarti is performed at the three holy cities of Haridwar, Rishikesh and Varanasi. After the ritual is complete, devotees will cup their hands over the flame of lit lamps and raise their palms to their forehead to receive the Goddess’s purification and blessing. Day 4: Varanasi (B) In the morning board a boat ride on the River Ganges. The western banks of Ganges have a string of Ghats – the chain of stone steps, all built with pavilions, palaces and terraces, most of which are mainly used as Dharamshalas where the pilgrims stay during their visit to the holy city. At dawn, the Ghats are abuzz with activity of the devotees performing their ablutions in the river or offering prayers to the rising sun and performing other religious rituals. A boat ride along the Ghats provides excellent views of this activity. Watch the sunrise on the Ganges; a soul-lifting experience. After the boat ride return to the hotel for breakfast. In the afternoon, visit the Vishwanath Temple (also called the golden temple because of the gold-plating on its roof) and drive past Bharat Mata Mandir and Benaras Hindu University – a premier central university and a world class educational institution located in Varanasi. It is regarded as the largest residential university in Asia. The fully-residential campus has more than 128 independent teaching departments in its 1350 acre campus. Day 5: Varanasi – Agra (B) Transfer to the railway station to board the train to Agra. On arrival in Agra transfer to your hotel. Day 6: Agra – Taj Mahal (B) At sunrise, take a Tonga (horse-drawn carriage) to visit the world famous Taj Mahal built by Shah Jahan in 1630 for his queen Mumtaz Mahal to enshrine her mortal remains. This architectural marvel is a perfectly proportioned masterpiece fashioned from white marble that stands testimony to the skill of 20,000 craftsmen brought together from Persia, Turkey, France and Italy. It took 17 years to complete this ‘Love Poem in Marble’. Return to the hotel for breakfast then depart for Agra Fort and Itmad-ud Daulah. Agra fort, built by Emperor Akbar, reveals the Mughal talent for combining defensive architecture with beauty and design. This fort palace was created by Akbar as a purely defensive citadel and was subsequently completed by two successive generations that added the delicate mosaic and magnificent marble palaces. The fort retains the history of Mughal life in Agra and offers a magical view of the Taj Mahal. Itmad-ud Daulah, one of the most beautiful of Mughal tombs, stands across the river Yamuna from the Taj Mahal, nearly one and a half kilometers up-stream. Created in the age of Jahangir, it contains cenotaphs of the parents of the powerful Mughal Empress Nurjahan, queen of Jahangir, an exceptional beauty and an astute administrator. Day 7: Agra – Fatehpur Sikri – Suroth (B) After breakfast, drive to Jaipur en route to Fatehpur Sikri. The deserted city of Fatehpur Sikri was built by Emperor Akbar in 1569, in honour of the great Saint Sheikh Salim Chisti who blessed Akbar and prophesied the birth of three sons to the heirless Emperor. The emperor used Fatehpur Sikri as his capital and the city was fully occupied for 14 years but slowly became deserted and ruined after Akbar left the city. Scarcity of water was the prime factor for the abandonment of this beautiful city. Visit the remarkably well-preserved, graceful buildings within the ‘Ghost City’ including the Jama Masjid, tomb of Salim Chisti, Panch Mahal Palace and other palaces that speak to the grandeur and splendour of the Mughal empire at the height of its power. Continue to Suroth and on arrival check-in to your hotel. In the evening enjoy a walk around the town to witness village life including a folk dance performance. Day 8: Suroth (B) Enjoy an exciting morning Jeep Safari ride near Suroth where you can witness the beautiful wildlife and landscapes. After breakfast back at the hotel, take a train ride with the locals from Suroth to Hindon. In the afternoon head to Bayana Fort. The construction of the fort is ascribed to Vijayapala in the eleventh century A.D. It served as strategic point during Muslim invasions. The region around Bayana seems to be quite old. A fragmentary inscription (dated A.D. 300) referring to a Maharaja Mahal Senapati elected by the Yaudheya Republic has been found here. Day 9: Suroth – Jaipur (B) After breakfast drive to Jaipur and check-in to your new hotel. Later visit Gator, one of the most beautiful cities in Jaipur. Discover Fort Nahargarh and Garh Ganesh Temple, where the king’s grave is found. In the evening, enjoy some free time to relax at the hotel then head to Birla Temple to witness Aarti take place. Day 10: Jaipur – Amber Fort (B) In the morning head for Amber Fort. A major attraction at Amber Fort is the Elephant Ride (subject to availability) all the way up to the Fort entrance. This journey on caparisoned elephants gives you an insight into the royal lifestyle of the Maharajas and is a truly unforgettable experience. Amber is a classic, romantic Rajasthani Fort Palace. The rugged, time-ravaged walls of the Fort may not look beautiful from the outside, but the interior is a virtual paradise. In the afternoon, take a city tour of Jaipur. You’ll first visit the Maharaja’s City Palace. A small portion of the palace is still used by the Royal family of Jaipur. Built in the style of a fortified campus, the palace covers almost one-seventh of the entire city. The main entrance leads to the courtyard at the center, known as the Mubarak Mahal. One of the major attractions in the museum is the portion known as the Armoury Museum; housing an impressive array of weaponry-pistols, blunderbusses, flintlocks, swords, rifles and daggers. The royal families of Jaipur once used most of these weapons. Day 11: Jaipur – Pushkar (B) After breakfast drive to Pushkar. Pushkar is a sacred town for the Hindus, situated 11kms Northwest of Ajmer. Evidence points to it having existed during the fourth century B.C. Thousands flock to Pushkar to observe the ritual on kartik Purnima – a sacred event. In the afternoon you’ll visit a famous Brahma Temple – one of the few temples in the world dedicated to this deity. It’s marked by red spire, and over the entrance gateway is the hans, or goose symbol, of Brahma, who is said to have personally chosen Pushkar as its site. Day 12: Pushkar – Udaipur (B) After breakfast, checkout from your hotel and drive to Udaipur, stopping at Chittorgarh along the way. Day 13: Udaipur (B) After breakfast take a peaceful boat ride on Lake Pichola. Lake Pichola is one of the most beautiful and picturesque lakes in Rajasthan. In 1362, the beautiful lake was built by Pichhu Banjara during the ruling period of Maharana Lakha. Spend the rest of your day on a city tour of Udaipur, visiting Saheliyon Ki Bari, Shree Jagdish Temple and the City Palace. Saheliyon Ki Bari Saheliyon Ki Bari is one the most beautiful gardens and a major tourist destination in Udaipur. The garden is famous for its lush green lawns, marble art and fountains. Shree Jagdish Temple Shree Jagdish Temple is a world renowned temple of Lord Vishnu. This three storey temple was built by Maharana Jagat Singh in 1651 and is now owned and managed by the royal family of Udaipur. It has 32 steps and 50 pillars, and is a brilliant piece of Indian architecture. City Palace Museum The main part of the palace is now preserved as a museum displaying a large and diverse array of artefacts. Down the steps from the entrance is the armoury museum exhibiting a huge collection of protective gear and weapons. Day 14: Udaipur – Ranakpur – Jodhpur (B) After breakfast, visit the Ranakpur Jain Temples en route to Jodhpur. Tucked away deep in the forested Aravalli hills, the Ranakpur Jain Temples is easily one of the most beautiful Jain temple complexes in India. Continue to Jodhpur – the second largest city in Rajasthan and is also known as the blue city as most of the houses of the old city are painted blue. The old city is surrounded by a 10km-wide wall featuring 101 bastions and seven gates. Check-in to your hotel and spend the rest of the day relaxing or exploring at your own leisure. Day 15: Jodhpur – Delhi (B) Enjoy a half day city tour of Jodhpur including Mehrangarh Fort and Jaswant Thada. Mehrangarh Fort is one of the finest in India and features exquisitely latticed windows in residential complexes. Jaswant Thada is a royal cenotaph built in white marble. Day 16: Delhi – Depart for Home (B) Transfer to the airport to board your flight back home to Australia. Day 17: Arrive Home in Australia Arrive back home with amazing memories of your magical Indian adventure. B = Breakfast L = Lunch D = Dinner I/F = In Flight FINE PRINT Buying and Booking: Buy now – limited time offer! Top Tip: Book early to secure your preferred dates! 14 day booking guarantee – if you can’t book your preferred dates within 14 days we will refund you in full. See T&Cs here Bookings are non refundable once your travel dates are confirmed Surcharges: Peak season surcharge of $250 per person applies to departures on certain dates – see TRAVEL DATES for more details Flight Information: Flights depart from Melbourne or Sydney Departures are available from Brisbane for a surcharge of $150 per person Departures are available from Adelaide or Perth for a surcharge of $250 per person Flights will be with one of the following airlines, subject to availability: Cathay Pacific, Singapore Airlines, Virgin Australia, China Southern Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, Qantas, Air India or Thai Airways Once your flights are confirmed and ticketed, flights are non-refundable and non-changeable General: Valid for 2 people, twin share Not valid with any other offer Subject to availability Package Excludes: Travel insurance – strongly recommended Visa fees (mandatory for Australian passport holders) Travel Advice: For the latest travel advice for your holiday please visit www.smartraveller.gov.au Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months after your trip overseas A visa may be required for your destination or any countries you are transiting. It is your responsibility to ensure you obtain a valid visa. Please visit http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/ to assist you with any requirements. For information about how we calculate the savings and values of our deals, click here Click here for Kogan Travel FAQs